Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 30, 1981 Page: 2 of 15
fifteen pages : ill. ; page 19 x 14 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
PAGE J
PORTLAND NEWS. ThurMtoy. July M. IN)
(USPS 414 240J
For Instance
MEMBER 1081
TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
w' MM •
NATIONAL NEWSPAPER
ASSOCIATION
MM«tF TMAC V St
MUIO UVflN l«H* *
JOVCI INAN Mew* Uo«h
ANMOMO ASMWOtTH AMverfttm»
KflTMOUTMtlC t#orH
JAAAftr TtACV it ImhwuM*ii*|i
jOMMMCNtV ItACV teia-t «*«**«#<
it ANIf COOMtOO A VICTOtIA AGUIttl IMitMfWt
PftOOUC TfO* STAFF
(MMmrFai NM VritorrMi OeMArAews Dmw touiti
•««iGom«i Oof.tAi Orlu CMIma T#yk>« Alenie M*r»*r Martr <*ir(W
Ctrl* >hr*f| IAvm Mertwe K«il< MirmI P»Uy ttmpti
Published Every Thursday at
Crescent Center, Portland, Texas 78374
by San Patricio Publishing Co., Inc.
Second-Class Postage Paid at
Portland, Texas 78374
MotK* Oto«»v«r*y ant poetry ar« published m Mwt paper at Nw ie*«i rata ®« It
Cfahpw apri A Mat ctkprfp p« SI M is mpta •« cprtfk a« IManbt «rtM« h <*a net rwn
•vpr Hva tmas Usrm e« Aeettn ant hinaralt pvbinhad m tuna la rata in t*e news
valwa are na« rplat as tMhnrm Any aeronaut ratioctian apon tna cMaractar or
slanMmf at any mtivitnal or institatian paPUthad w» mate c eta mm wMt b* cttaar
tatty car roc lad upon feeing bran pn» la Iba altanliaa at me editor Mia null also ap
praoete me fviMf at any nates lam me names at vn'tprt on year be me. er me
feon« at members at year <emoty away *ar a visit Wcfe assistance null batp in
crease tbe vabw at yam local paper
Sebscrtpbem are payable on advance, attarlrva September i. Its# $e St par rear
n«tb cennty address and *»J M per year «Isenbare CoUepe snbscroptoam * man
ms HI M. A mentbs t* aa Arranpemeats ler maitinf Mi Mb*' avtsode me can
Imanlai limits at Hoe Untied Stales which w mast cases repair#* edditienai
pasiape may be made witn me pabusber
POST MAST! P
tun
Sand address cHenpes «• Portland Mews P O baa I Taft. Ti
Portland’s
Past
II YEARS AGO
-19*7-
The public is reminded of the
Cookies for Vietnam project be-
ing sponsored by the
Democratic Women of San
Patricio County The packing
of cookies and articles will be
don* at First Baptist Church in
Taftst9a.m , Aug 3.
...o...
Mias Karla George of 529
Moore Ave. is a contestant in
the 12th annual Mias Padre
Island Beauty Pageant which
will be held In conjunction with
the annual walksthon She was
named Miss VT29 of Naval Air
Station and was a contestant in
the Navy Relief Festival Beau-
ty Pageant earlier this year
...e~.
All seven coaches from
Gregory-Portland School
System will attend the annual
couching school to be held at
San Antonio Sunday through
Thursday of next week
Coaches j t -ending are John
Kline, Carlo Mircovich. George
Harris, Charles Wiginton,
In Portland
This Week
THURSDAY, JULY J#
TOPS 638 7:30p.m., First Presbyterian Church
FRIDAY. JULY 11
Portland Al-Non - 10 a m.. Our lady of Mount Carmel
Catholic Church
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2
Portland Singles Gub-7:30p.m., lands End apartments
social room
MONDAY, AUG. 3
Rotary Club -12 noon. Community Center
IJons Club - 7 p.m . Shep's Chicken Shack
Traffic advisory board - 7 p.m., city hall
G-P Community Chorus - 7:29 p.m., First Baptist Chur-
ch; for bookings call Iaura Adams, 643-740!,
Fire department auxiliary' - 7:10 p.m., fire station
Overeaten Anonymous - S p.m., First Presbyterian
Church
TUESDAY. AUG. 4
Chamber of Commerce board of directors - 11 g.m ,
Portland State Bank
City council meeting • 7 p.m., city hall
Eastern Star - 7:30p.m., Masonic Ixxlge building
Volunteer fire department • 7.30 p.m., fire station
Alcoholism information seminar -7:30 pm., First United
Methodist Church
WEDNESDAY. AUG. 6
Kmanis Club -12 noon. Shep's Chicken Shack
Portland Ai-Non -1 p.m., First United Methodist Church
Portland Sea Gulls Square Dance Club - 8 p.m.. Com-
munity Center
THURSDAY,AUG. 6
Story Tune -10 a .m., Bell Public Library
TOPS 630 - 7:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church
BEIJ. PUBLIC LIBRARY HOURS
Monday, Tuesday. Thursday -9a m to6 p m.; Wednes-
day-9a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday -9 a.m. to 5 p.m .; Saturday -10
a.m.to2p.m
Maverick Was Right About Turkeys
— by pdl —
FORMER U. S. Represen
lative Maury Mavenck of San
Antonio hit it right on the head
many years ago
He routed the phrase "gob-
biedygook”, calling the govem-
menteae uttering* as similar to
the cries of turkeys.
And, the turkeys are at it
more today than ever
U.S Government at all
echelons no longer could per-
form without their cute little
phrases and their reams of
ridiculous vertiage
Take, for instance, some of
the gobbledygook coming out of
the closed meeting held last
Friday at Houston by the U.S
Army Corps of Engineers on
the dumping site for the dredge
that will come off the bottom of
the Corpus Christl ship chan-
nel.
The release date for the
dump site selection announce-
ment originally was set for July
29
However, at the Houston
meeting the Corps said that
there was a need for "fine tun-
ing" and this caused the delay
in the announcement.
The Carp* said that Congres-
sional aides had to be briefed
on viable alternatives " "We
rehashed all the choices "
"Covered the gauntlet "
Differences involved "nuts
and bolts "
In an announcement leading
up to the closed meeting, the
Corps said it was "still shooting
at" the July 29 release date
How clever.
IT IS budget time
This sends shivers up and
down the spines of Portland
taxpayers.
Instant shock.
The city, the school district
and other entitles are putting
figures together to see what it
is going to coat to run govern-
ment for the coming fiscal
year.
The school district announc-
ed a week or two ago that the
district rate would be hiked on-
ly two cents
Monday night, at the city's
first budget workshop session,
it looked as if the bite for 1981-
12 would only be an additional
three per cent
Holding the line on the
general operating budgets as
these two entities have done is
not easy They have done a
commendable Job.
Sure, there is a bunch more
that could be done lo make liv-
ing easier and better in the
community, but It all costs.
And, cost means getting the
bucks And, the bucks can only
come from you, the taxpayer
Another hurdle behind’’ Feel
HONEYMOON’S OVER
C
•8
JL-
CUT
SPENDS!
MiWi
Country Crossroads
Bruce Matthews, Robert Moore
and Ray Akins The latter is
already In the San Antonio area
and will meet the other six at
school
10 YEARS AGO
-1971-
The Gregory-Portland Sym-
phonic Band has been named
the fifth best band in Class 3A
in the state of Texas by Texas
Bandmasters Association
Clinic now holding their annual
convention in San Antonio This
is the first time in the history of
the school that the G-P band
has been rated by the state-
wide group
Marty Akins placed first in
shot put in the Regional AAU
Championship meet held in
Houston on July 24, thin quali-
fying him to take pari In the
National AAU Championship
meet to be held at the Air Force
Academy In Colorado during
the week of Aug. 9 to 13.
See PAST, Page 9
Aunt Kate Found A Way,
“To Take It With You”
by KEITH GUTHRIE
“You can’t take it with
you..."
We have it ingrained in us
from youth on that taxes and
death are two things that you
can't beat. Yet, the newspapers
are full of stones about how
folks go to great lengths to beat
both
Not long ago a man tried to
eat a batch of large bills just to
make sure that he actually
would take along a chunk of his
worldly possessions The an-
cient Egyptians were pretty
sure that they needed a few
things and actually managed to
get buned with great wealth
But I think my Aunt Kate
pretty well out-foxed everyone
and had the last word.
Aunt Kate was a bit of special
in-as-far as kinfolks go since
she was my father's sister and
her husband was my mother's
brother, making them double
unices and aunts Since they
lived in North Texas, and our
family in South Texas, we
didn't see tliem too often but
through the years we did keep
in touch and I managed to see
them occasionally through the
years
Pop, who made no secret at
his advancing years, used to
get a bit perturbed at stater
Kate's reluctance tc MM to
her advancing years He got a
chuckle when, on one occasion,
Aunt Kate wrote to him and
wanted Pop to sign an affidavit
as to when she was bom in
order for her to get a passport
"I bet that’s the first time Kate
has admitted how old she was
since she turned 16," Pop
observed as he signed the
papers
Aunt Kate was so good at
keeping her age to herself that
I'm not sure her own kids ac-
tually knew Just how old she
was. Aunt Kate was an active
partner in the Archer City bank
where Uncle Wayne was presi-
dent, and when he died Aunt
Kale took over and kept things
humming.
Folks In Archer City got to
where they didn't question
anything that Mrs. Simmons
had to say, and certainly no one
ever speculated out loud on how
old she was, even when honors
came her way and recognition
was given in the media
Once we stopped by to visit
with her and I was seeking
some family information about
the ages of brothers and
sisters. Aunt Kate hardly bat-
ted an eye as she deftly chang-
Weekly Portfolio
by Max Hottell
Account Iterative Boche Hahe^ Stuart A Shield*. Inc
This lithe Bache Wall Street
commentary brought to you by
the brokers at Bache Halsey
Stuart Shields And now here is
the closing Market commen-
tary from the office of Bache
Analysts in New York.
There's high drama coming
up in Washington Wednesday
and colorful pagentry in Lon-
don As for Wall Street - the
blahs The Market gave a quick
"thumbs down" this morning
to the president!*! tax
pleading While President
Reagan seeks to overcome
bracken creep, the financial
Markets are concerned about
potential deficit creep. The
Street is unable to square tax
cuts and defense hikes with
balanced budgets And while
the administrations tax bill
could well go down to narrow
defeat In the House Wednes-
day, the Democratic alter-
native is no great shakes
The Dow Industrial Average
broke a three-day winning
streak with a six-point loss
Declines outpaced advances by
a 9-6 ratio and volume limped
along at 38 million shares.
The Bond Markets were
sticky Tuesday as federal funds
remained in the 18 percent
region and no sign of monetary
accomodations were forthcom-
ing. While still at an elevated
level the funds rale was below
the 20 percent plateau of last
week As a consequence
several banks have reduced
their broker loan rate down to
19W percent, but. the prime
rate remains solidly entrench-
ed at 20*Y percent
Indications that this high rate
plateau will be with us for some
time to come kept upward
pressure on the dollar and
downward pressure on gold
The yellow metal flirted with
the dollars 400 suppurt tone for
the fourth time in the past few
months
Maneuvering on the tax vote
Wednesday is In the true
Washington tradition House
Speaker O'Neill says the
good7
Don't.
There are a couple of issues
on the horiton that could
change the picture from rosy
glee to one of gray gloom
IT 18 no secret that the G-P
schools are full to the brun.
Campuses runnith over with
portable buildings
The problem is not going to
go away. It is going to get
worse, lxrak at the new subdivi-
sions being carved out This
means more youngsters More
youngsters mean more
students. More students mean
more classrooms Classrooms
have to be in buildings
That's the picture
And, solution of this problem
is a must.
Education can not and must
not be placed on the back
burner.
The needs have to be met.
regardless of the con-
sequences
Education must go on, or the
country will not go on. It is
much as it is with agriculture.
When farming ceases, that’s it.
There's nothing left.
So. the district is going to
have to come up with a bond
issue in the very near future to
insure that the education of G-P
students continues. The bite is
not going to be a meager one.
There is speculation it could be
in the $10 to $20 million range
And, that evil newcomer, in-
flation. hasn’t yet tucked tn its
feathers to vacate the
premises
On the city side of the ledger,
a bond issue election has been
called for Aug. 13.
It asks *500,000 for an
elevated water tower, a re-
quirement to keep the thirst
factor down Remember last
summer7 It was a "long hot”
one and things got a bit dry
Thirst is not pleasant, nor is the
lack of water pressure needed
to douse a fire. • |
The issue also will seek 62
million for a new community
center - library complex This
item alone will up the tax rat*
an estimated 20 per cent for®
construction and equipping
costs. The tax rate currently is
62.02 per 6100 valuation on 45
per cent of the assessed valua-
tion. This propostion could send
it to 62.44.
A study now is being ac-
complished. and is in the
engineering phase, for a new
sewage plant. The feds sup-
posedly will pick up 75 per cent
of the tab. That still leaves
some with which the locals will
have to contend. This project is
possibly down the road a couple
of years. e
Have a nice day.
Severance Tax
Proposal Could Cost
Texans Billions
"What the attorney general
is suggesting makes about as
much sense as burning down
your house to get rid of mice;
Texas consumers will end up
being burned and burned bad,”
Bob Bullock, state comptroller,
said last week in discussing
Mark White's proposal to in-
crease severance taxes on oil
and gas.
Bullock said the proposal
would heap millions of dollars
in new taxes on Texans
An analysis of a 30 per cent
severance tax on oil and gas
will increase the taxes the
average Texas motorist pays in
severance taxes each year for
the purchase of gasoline from
626 56 to 6*0 10, Bullock pointed
out.
Texas refineries consume 64
per cent of the crude oil produc-
tion in the state
Because the cost of natural
gas In Texas is higher than the
cost for out-of-state customers,
Texans wind up paying 73 per
cent of the natural gas
severance tax, he explained
Texas crude oil is taxed at 4.6
per cent of value, while the
natural gas rate is 7.5 per cent.
Overall, a 30 per cent
severance tax would mean
about 32.6 billion in additional
taxes on oil and 31 6 billion on
natural gas.
"Basically, White's proposal
will quadruple the taxes that
Texans pay on energy products
and if he’s successful In having
a severance tax placed on coal
or lignite he’ll end up jacking
up our electric rates because
all the lignite produced is con-
sumed in Texas,” Bullock said.
"Those who advised the at-
torney general on this were ill-
advised. I'll be glad to show
him my figures, 1 just hope he's
got someone smart enough to
explain them to him.” he add-
ed.
Bullock said White's
retaliatory severance tax pro-
posal won’t work In Texas
because it will not only cost
Texas consumers more but it is
also a kick In the teeth to the
state's 650,000 royalty owners.
Editor 8 Quote Book
The surest foundation of
a manufacturing concern is
quality. After that, and a
long way after, comes cost.
—Andrew Carnegie
ed the subject to age of grand-
children.
This spring we got a
telephone call telling of Aunt
Kate's death. I wondered to
myself: "I bet Aunt Kate will
roast the reporter who reports
her age..."
Just this past week double
cousin Helen came by for a
visit and we were laughing
about Aunt Kate’s fixation
about telling her age.
Helen smiled: “But, you
know, Mother actually did
TAKE IT WITH HER!”
When Helen and her sister
went tc the funeral home to
make arrangements for Aunt
Kate's services Helen caution-
ed the funeral director: "Now,
do not make mention of
mother s age in ANYTHING.”
“But Mrs. Fall,” the director
interjected aa he handed her a
packet, “your mother told
me..."
Sure enough. Aunt Kate
decided to take things into her
own hands and specified to the
funeral director that her age
was to be reported at 83,
regardless of when she died
And so it was - Aunt Kate, who
had guarded her youth for 91
years, actually did "take It
with her."
Bookshelf
‘Tilly’ Has All Sorts Of Trouble
BY LYRA SPARKS
"Tilly,” the latest novel by
Catherine Cookson, is the
strongest book of hers that I
have ever read.
The setting is in the minuig
town of the nineteenth century -
J arrow - and the countryside
around it.
This book portrays (without
being too obvious or moralistic
about it) the terrible working
conditions of the miners, most
of the owners' disregard for the
human lives that were en-
dangered, the owners'
callousness about the welfare,
the quality of living of those
who worked for them.
Catherine Cookson also depicts
the hypocrisy of the Victorian
Age
Tillv. an orphan, lives with
her grandfather and grand-
mother in a small cottage a few
miles from the River Tyne and
the North Sea. The cottage is
owned by Mark Sopwith, one of
the mine owners whose father
has allowed the old couple to
stay there because earlier the
old man had saved Mark from
drowning. 'Actually Mark has
more of a conscience than do
most of the mine owners of the
day - especially the one adjoin-
ing his.)
Tilly's grandparents get a
mysterious dole, brought each
month by Simon Brentwood, a
farmer nearby; the dole has
something to do with the
McGraths, and as the story
opens, Hal McGrath has been
seeking to court Tilly who will
have nothing to do with him.
(And this creates problems
almost throughout the whole
story.)
The pastor's wife, Ellen
Ross, has befriended Tilly,
taught her to read, write and
(secretly perhaps i to dance. On *
top of this Tilly thinks herself in
love with Simon the farmer,
and is most upset when, on a
visit, he brings their monthly
soveriegn, and he announces
his approaching nuptials. Her
grandmother persuades her to
the wedding and Simon's wed-
ding night is disturbed when
Steve McGrath comes to warn
him that Hal McGrath Is plann-
ing to waylay {with two of his
friends) Tilly as she goes home
from the festivities.
A tale of witclicraft is woven
See BOOKSHELF, Page 9
Readers’ Viewpoint
Lrtters tn the editor are published in the Portland NEWS with or without the writer's
signature. However, in submitting material, the signature of the writer, address and
telephone number must be included, along with a statement not to publish Ihe name, If that
Is desired, letter* will be verified with the sender prior to publication. Letters are limited to
300 words. The editor reserves the right to reject any letter.
Democratic "boll weevils” are
hanging together, although a
good deal of pressure is being
applied by business and in-
dividuals influenced by Presi-
dent Reagan's address Right
now the Administration seems
to be 14 votes short but con-
ditons could change by tomor-
row.
In the news, the June balance
of trade deficit narrowed
slightly from the May level.
Wednesday we expect another
substantial decline in the June
leading economic indicators,
underscoring once again the
faltering pace of the economy
In sum. the Market continues
in a drifting pattern, punc-
tuated every now and then by a
trading pop. Ahh - to be in
England
The canvas, plastic and cord
webbing on outdoor furniture
can be kepi clean with warm
detergent or soap suds and brisk
scrubbing Always rinse well,
and wipe off excess water
Traditionally • gratitude,
support and encouragement
have been given to our com-
munity center, the park and
recreation department and the
library through voluntary con-
tributions.
In my opinion, gifts of tune,
money and goods are the
highest form of community in-
volvement, This is becoming
more so duruig these difficult
and challenging times Unfor-
tunately. disinterest has grown
with Portland's residential ex-
pansion, "The Portland
Boom."
Financial burdens produced
by a lop-sided tax base growth
are now upon us Since 1969
we've heard about and hoped
for "more clean industry" to
share tax support of municipal
and school operations Results
are in demand like now. I
wonder Has this created the
disinterest among regular
voluntary contributors - from
the smallest to the largest7
Is It time the city council con-
sistently evaluated the "needs"
vs. the "wants" of residential
property taxpayers7 Can't the
residential developers, pro-
moters and city council ease off
us taxpayers to reconsider im-
aginative yel realistic alter-
natives • in lieu of pursuing
sophistication for the sake of
sophistication?
The August 15 bond election
Is one way we citizens can set
priorities and precedents I will
accept burden of a 6500.000
water tank. I want to accept the
burden of a library expansion
but cannot really accept finan-
cial responsibility for the ex-
pansion of our park and recrea-
tion department as envisioned
in the current proposals. I
would willingly explain myself
with facts of the matter obtain-
ed as a former park and recrea-
tion board member, vice chair-
man and chairman.
Voters need additional in-
depth facts, such as:
• - What are the specific plans
for the continued expansion of
the park and recreation budget,
for 1982 and the future, l.e.. per-
sonnel, equipment, supplies,
rapable to operate facilities or
programs daily, evenings and
weekends.
• • What are the current pro-
jections of physical education
and/or recreational facility
needs being constructed or
undertaken by the school
district?
• - What specific facilities of
the schools are now being used
by or available to the park and
recreation department7 What
additional qualified personnel
or authorities are needed by the
department for any increases
in use of these facilities -
tracks, gyms, cafeterias, etc.?
• • Re dining, dancing,
meeting and entertainment
facilities. Has city council or
Chamber of Commerce in-
dustrial commission approach-
ed, questioned or encouraged
the owner of Portland's Motel
11 about the feasibility of pro-
viding such facilities7 What
about the possibility and reality
of a Chamber of Commerce
location adjacent to or within
Motel 11 (clean, light tourist in-
dustry) Motel 11 already is
subsidizing the Chamber effort
with a special city tax and the
Chamber wants Highway 181
visibility?
- - Has city council seriously
studied using for recreational
purposes the metal buildings
and grounds of the vehicle and
maintenance departments
overlooking Nueces Bay adja-
cent to HE B pool? (The city has
extra property on the western
city limits considered better
suited for these departments.)
• - How many handball and
exercise facilities - complete
with shower and dressing
rooms, etc. - are municipally
See LETTER, Page 16
c
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Leveen, Paul D. Portland News (Portland, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 31, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 30, 1981, newspaper, July 30, 1981; Taft, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth871811/m1/2/: accessed June 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Bell/Whittington Public Library.